---9-

"Koki-chan!" A little girl's voice rang out. Sasuke looked around and saw a girl run into his view. The girl was maybe 6 or 7 years of age and she wore an Orange t-shrit, that looked familiar, and a pair of khaki shorts. Her feet, though, were bare.

The Girl ran right in front of the cat-like beast creature and waved a finger its way. "Be nice Koki-chan!" She chastised the cat. Then the girl turned around and smiled bright, her big red eyes looking up at the two ninja's. "Welcome." She said and took a deep bow. Then she looked up and jumped up into Naruto's arms. "Naruto-nichan!" She squeeled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek and nuzzled his neck.

"So the brat is back." A woman's voice spoke. Sasuke was surprised that it was in fact the cat that spoke. "And he brought a meal with him." Sasuke stepped back as the cat took a step forward towards him.The cat let out a deep cold laugh. "Is the Uchiha afraid?" She asked.

Sasuke turned his head to Naruto who was holding in his arms the young girl who seem to be nuzzled into his neck with her arms around him.

Naruto stepped closer to Sasuke and looked at the cat. "No food, just a friend. Uchiha Sasuke meet Koki-sama, the beast of the cavern."

"Beast this, beast that." She said as she took a step forward towards Sasuke. "Just call me Koki-sama." She raised a paw to Sasuke.

Sasuke glanced sideways towards Naruto and noticed the little girl was fast asleep in his arms. Naruto gave him a nod and Sasuke bent and took the paw.

Soon as Sasuke had taken his hand back the cat sprang back on to a large flat rock that was maybe waist high on Sasuke. She lowered herself on the rock and placed her head on her crossed paws. She continued to stare at the two ninjas.

Sasuke was surprised to see Naruto take a seat on the ground with the cat over head, still holding the child, and he seemed completely comfortable with it too. Sasuke decided to be more cautious and stay on his feet next to Naruto. Sasuke looked down at Naruto and saw him hold the girl tight with one arm wrapped around her and the girl was now pressed against his chest, still sleeping. Naruto brushed back her bangs with his free hand and placed a kiss on her forehead like a father might have.

When Sasuke looked up again to the cat, there was no cat. There instead was a woman lying on her stomach naked, her head rest on her folded arm. Her blue-black hair flowed down her back, silky and smooth as the scales she had been wearing a moment ago.

The womans red eyes were focused on Naruto and the child. "The men you sent the other day, Naruto, were poisoned. Not that I mind but it makes them taste... bitter."

Sasuke's face showed signs of a little disgust. "Do you really eat men?"

The woman's gaze shifted to Sasuke. "You are a pretty one." She almost seemed to purr. "We eat their chakra, their flesh feeds the earth." She told him coldly. "Do not pass judgment on those things you do not know."

"Sasuke." Naruto said from the ground and Sasuke stared down at him. "These caverns live becaue man created them as a weapon of war. She lives because she is a weapon. She does what she was called for."

"Can I keep this one Naruto? You just don't come to visit that often anymore. I get so bored." She said as she propped herself up on her elbows and exposed her breasts to Sasuke. Sasuke blushed furiously and looked down. Naruto smiled at his friend's innocence. "The men you send down here are no good, especially when they've been poisoned."

Naruto tugged at Sasuke's sleeve, urging him to sit and Sasuke complied.

"That Kyubi's chakra... it's vicious." She said with a serious voice. "I'm surprised it hasn't killed you yet." She suddenly sat up. Sasuke immediately averted his eyes though he notice that Naruto did not do the same. He saw her feet hit the ground and she calmly walked over to Naruto.

Out of curiosity Sasuke shifted his gaze to watch Naruto, who seemed to be looking directly into the woman's eyes. The woman lowered herself onto Naruto's lap, straddling him, trapping the little girl between herself and Naruto. She leaned in and ran a hand under Naruto's chin forcing his head to tilt back, she lowered her lips close to his. "Why won't you let us help you? We could save your life."

Sasuke's eyes went wide. "You mean there's a way to save his life?" He asked staring at the woman. Then his eyes shifted to Naruto. "Naruto did you know about this?"

Naruto looked at Sasuke sadly and nodded. He shifted his gaze to the ground then. "You know I can't Koki. I can't stay here."

"You could. I'm here. Kou-chan is here. We can be a family." She lifted Naruto's head to face her and then lowered her lips on to his. Naruto's free arm wound around her and his hand ran up her back to her neck.

Sasuke felt uncomfortable watching them. As the kiss ended, he thought he saw a tear slide down Koki's cheek, but he wasn't quite sure for her hair acted as a curtain the moment she pulled away. She then leaned into Naruto's ear and whispered something. Sasuke's sharingan were of no use to him, he could not see her lips as she whispered, but he did notice Naruto's eyes go wide and then sadden. He dropped his gaze to the ground and then his head onto Koki's shoulder.

Sasuke was alarmed but Naruto seemed to still be awake. The woman ran a hand through Naruto's hair comfortingly.

After a few seconds Naruto picked his head up again and Koki raised herself off of him. Naruto looked up into her eyes and bowed his head. "Arigato Koki." His voice was low but clear.

She backed off onto the rock she had been on as Sasuke continued to stare at Naruto. When Sasuke looked back over to the woman, the cat was there again.

"Leave kid. Don't come back." Her voice came out harsh.

Naruto bowed his head immediately in response. "Hai Koki-sama." He then looked down at the small form in his arms and ran a hand over her forhead and pulled back her bangs."Kou-chan." He called to her. Sasuke was surprised to see a certain softness in Naruto's face that he had never shown before. "Kou-chan." Naruto softly called again. The girl shifted and fluttered her eyes open.

"Mmm... Naruto-nichan?" She asked in a sleepy voice, looking up at him.

"I have to go Kou-chan."

The girl's look shifted from sleepy to panicked. She wrapped her arms about Naruto tightly and pressed herself against him. "Ie Naruto-nichan. Don't leave so soon!"

"Kou-chan." Naruto said tenderly. "I have to go. I have a village to protect."

Kou's arms dropped away from Naruto's back and she had pulled back a little. Naruto took the little girl's hands in his and squeezed them. Then lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her's. "Kou-chan, I'll see you again someday when my people are safe."

He then kissed her forehead and dropped her hands. He placed his hands under her arms, picked her up and placed her on the ground on her feet standing. He then picked himself up and offered his hand to her which she took.

Naruto then looked down directly at Sasuke. "Are you coming?" He asked.

Sasuke blinked and stood up. He followed Kou and Naruto to where once again there was a door. He realized as he watched them walk ahead of him that he was an outsider to all this. That he knew very little about Naruto, or maybe he knew just what he needed to.

As Kou opened the door for Naruto and Sasuke, air rushed in and with it came the smell of rotting flesh though it lastest only for a moment. Kou seemed to look up to Sasuke and notice his expression of disgust.

"I hate that smell too. It's always there in the caves." She told him.

Sasuke seemed surprised by this. He turned back to the cavern and took in a deep breath. He did indeed notice the smell of rotting flesh, though it was very light. Sasuke turned back and followed Naruto out the door that Kou held open.